New Challenges: National TOP-RUNNER-INITIATIVE

innonatives launches three new challenges for the National Top Runner Initiative NTRI, an initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi). Develop ideas for the efficient use of energy in the home and increase energy efficiency.

What is this about?

Household appliances offer enormous savings potential – if as many people as possible use particularly energy-efficient appliances. With the “National Top Runner Initiative” (NTRI), the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi) wants to bring energy-efficient and high-quality devices (“Top Runners”) to the market faster.

This reduces energy consumption and contributes to the energy revolution.

More information about the National Top Runner Initiative can be found at

NTRI: Heating and Ventilation

The creators of the 10 best solutions for the NTRI Challenges are invited to present their ideas at an NTRI event in Berlin to manufacturers, political representatives and environmental and consumer organizations. The associated costs (economy flight or train journey 2nd class, up to 2 nights in a hotel) will be reimbursed up to an amount of 500 €.

innonatives is the world’s first open innovation platform for Sustainability combining Crowd Sourcing, Crowd Voting, Crowd Funding and an Online Shop. innonatives is open to everybody. Users can start innovation challenges, share ideas, comment and vote, contribute to solutions and collaborate with creative people around the world. innonatives also offers an expert system and evaluation tools to help develop sustainable solutions. All activities at innonatives are directed towards increasing sustainability.

]]>http://www.design4disaster.org/2018/04/10/new-challenges-on-innonatives-national-top-runner-initiative/feed/0Biodiversity conservation and businesshttp://www.design4disaster.org/2018/02/12/biodiversity-conservation-and-business/
http://www.design4disaster.org/2018/02/12/biodiversity-conservation-and-business/#respondMon, 12 Feb 2018 14:52:05 +0000http://www.design4disaster.org/?p=3637The biological diversity makes our lives livable in the planet trough an array of ecological processes which provide us vital products and services, such as foods and materials that contributes to the economy. Although, factors such as habitat destruction, biological invasion and climate change have been taken numerous species to extinction. The lasting natural areas are not valued and they are still seen as obstacles to traditional economic development. The challenge will select innovative business ideas and solutions which promote positive impact for biodiversity conservation in Brazil in any of our economic sectors.

Look for more Challenges on innonatives – open platform for sustainability

]]>http://www.design4disaster.org/2018/02/12/biodiversity-conservation-and-business/feed/0#sonomacountystrong — Written by Maxwell James Hedayatihttp://www.design4disaster.org/2017/10/25/sonomacountystrong-written-by-maxwell-james-hedayati/
http://www.design4disaster.org/2017/10/25/sonomacountystrong-written-by-maxwell-james-hedayati/#respondWed, 25 Oct 2017 05:29:04 +0000http://www.design4disaster.org/?p=3622Written by Maxwell James Hedayati / Photo: Peter DaSilva, Special To The Chronicle

To representatives of the College Board,

Let me start off by introducing myself, and put a person behind the email address. My name is Maxwell Hedayati, and I am a student at Maria Carrillo high school in Santa Rosa California. I have an immense passion for science and medicine and I am aspiring to one day become a physician. I love playing and watching basketball and although I am an avid Golden State Warriors fan, I assure you that I am not a bandwagoner being that Oakland is only an hour south of my home town. I don’t say this to brag, to impress, or to prove my ambition, but I say it to help you understand me as a person, and not as a sum of words on a computer screen.

That being said, I would like to bring to your attention my predicament, and the predicament of thousands of ambitious, and capable students across Sonoma County. We have been heavily effected by the fires in our area: two schools have burned to the ground, and the hill above ours is now nothing more than a heaping pile of charcoal. Many teachers and students (like myself) have had their homes reduced to rubble comparable to the scorched ruins of Persepolis. My point being that due to this devastating tragedy our school has been closed since October ninth and will remain closed until the twenty seventh which has forced AP students and teachers into an uncomfortable super speed trying to make up for the lost time. This issue, while inconvenient, is not as irreversible as the inability to take the PSAT. My school has reached out to you, the college board, and appealed on behalf of us students for you to extend the deadline of the PSAT.

You rejected us like Kevin Durant rejected Jrue Holiday twice with one shoe. I was extremely disappointed, shocked, and appalled by your inflexibility towards the victims of this horrible event. As I’m sure you are aware, the PSAT is a vital tool needed to study for the all mighty SAT. For you to deny this opportunity to newly homeless people who have just undergone a traumatic event is an atrocity. I strongly urge you to reconsider your unfortunate decision because I assure you that the impact is greater than you think. I understand that it is easy to write the two most disappointing letters in the English language in an email, but hopefully this reconsideration will persuade you to do the right thing and provide this invaluable opportunity to the students of Santa Rosa California’s public schools.

]]>http://www.design4disaster.org/2017/10/25/sonomacountystrong-written-by-maxwell-james-hedayati/feed/0Project VIDARRhttp://www.design4disaster.org/2017/09/29/project-vidarr/
http://www.design4disaster.org/2017/09/29/project-vidarr/#respondFri, 29 Sep 2017 14:45:01 +0000http://www.design4disaster.org/?p=3609The Vidarr project is an integrated system that aims at minimizing the costs and timing of having high-quality temporary housing in case of disasters, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, wars …
The accommodations you get are of the highest quality, high flexibility and ease of use and handling

When needed, the technical part in a very short time is easily removed and reused as a basis for temporary accommodation. The completion of the accommodation is a mere closure with no structural elements with very low technology and easy to find such as: tents (1), wooden panels (2). In the event that the technical part is inserted inside a supporting structure (3) such as a parking lot or a sports hall …, the closure of the temporary accommodation is realized by plasterboard panels (or similar) made by, for example: fire brigade, Humanitarian organizations or military engineering corps.

]]>http://www.design4disaster.org/2017/09/29/project-vidarr/feed/0Additive Manufacturing – Rapid Operator Support Systemhttp://www.design4disaster.org/2017/05/18/additive-manufacturing-rapid-operator-support-system/
http://www.design4disaster.org/2017/05/18/additive-manufacturing-rapid-operator-support-system/#respondThu, 18 May 2017 08:23:42 +0000http://www.design4disaster.org/?p=3601The “Additive Manufacturing – Rapid Support System” (AM-RS2) is a turn-key, fully integrated/automated, user friendly, deployable system made of a “Fused Deposition Modelling” (FDM) unit, a 3D Scanner unit, a “Human Machine Interface” (HMI) unit and a library of pre-loaded “Pilot Geometries”. The AM-RS2 is intended for delocalised manufacturing, in-theatre next to the point of use and aims to support operators during their daily tasks. The innovation relies in both, the full integration of the system and the pre-loading of “Pilot Geometries” which are firstly ready to be customised based on mission requirements/operators’ needs and secondly redesigned for enhanced performance, modularity, multifunctional, lightweight. The AM – RS2 may be employed for different missions such as

support crisis relief mission through the production of standard plastic medical components and tailored to end-user needs components

tailor smart packaging to reduce the packaging volume and maximise air logistics

rapid prototyping for in-theatre equipment modifications and repairs and

improving performance of Operators through the rapid production of highly tailored, redesigned for enhanced performance, plastic, non-critical components of drones, special tools kit

]]>http://www.design4disaster.org/2017/05/18/additive-manufacturing-rapid-operator-support-system/feed/0Blue Freedom – Providing reliable first aid electricity from hydropowerhttp://www.design4disaster.org/2017/02/24/blue-freedom-providing-reliable-first-aid-electricity-from-hydropower/
http://www.design4disaster.org/2017/02/24/blue-freedom-providing-reliable-first-aid-electricity-from-hydropower/#respondFri, 24 Feb 2017 13:16:22 +0000http://www.design4disaster.org/?p=3581Electrical power supply is among the first critically important services in disaster areas. Especially natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes or floodings lead to a destruction of the installed power grid and portable electricity becomes indispensable.

With a weight of 690g and an outer diameter of 22cm Blue Freedom Portable fits into any backpack. Its two Speed USB Ports (1.5A) allow charging any electronic device that comes with a USB charging cable. GPS devices, radio sets and basic first aid tools can thus reliably function anytime. Blue Freedom Portable comes with integrated bright LED lights enabling its user to generate power 24/7. As soon as the rotor starts turning in water electricity production and storage in the 5.000 mAh capacity battery begin. The especially designed rotor blades enable a very high degree of efficiency and quick charging. The housing contains all technical components in a space efficient fashion and protects them from damage. Portable is a great tool for rescuer teams on first aid missions.

German technology developer Blue Freedom GmbH will moreover be offering a larger version of Portable by the end of 2017: Blue Freedom Flexible. With a nominal power of 250 – 500 W it is a movable provider of electricity for hospitals, homes, food stores schools and other vital services. It’s functioning is similar to Portable’s: Both come with a rotor driven by the flow of water that is connected to the generator by a shaft. They are thus very simple to install and dismantle and can be handled by anyone.

Blue Freedom has won the Next Economy Award 2015, the WECONOMY Award 2015, the German Energy Award 2015 and the German Design Award 2016.

For more information on Blue Freedom solutions, functioning and applications please visit: www.blue-freedom.net.

]]>http://www.design4disaster.org/2017/02/24/blue-freedom-providing-reliable-first-aid-electricity-from-hydropower/feed/0Transition of Shelters – Portable Emergency Shelterhttp://www.design4disaster.org/2016/05/23/transition-of-shelters-portable-emergency-shelter/
http://www.design4disaster.org/2016/05/23/transition-of-shelters-portable-emergency-shelter/#respondMon, 23 May 2016 12:59:20 +0000http://www.design4disaster.org/?p=3517Migratation of refugess are indeed a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a Society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources. It affects both physically and mentally. It also causes health and safety issues like spreading of diseases. Food, water and clothing are all non-negotiable but the issue of shelter is always a debate. The current opinion of many government and non-government organizations is to skip the temporary housing phase of recovery and move straight into permanent public infrastructure. A type of temporary housing is adapted and able to arrive at the site of the disaster quickly with the principles of light, air and quality materials. The relief is done in two phases with individual shelter and then later formed into community for psychological recover.

Sabari Probaharans’ proposal is done so that, it will withstand any type of basic climatic factors with adjustable roofs, floors and walls. It is completely portable and factory made and transported to site by any means of transportation and constructed within 2 hours of time. The cluster is formed to get the community participation to improve the psychological aspects of the affected people. The shelter can be made into permanent facilities. the module is changes with respected to walls,roofs and floors.

]]>http://www.design4disaster.org/2016/05/23/transition-of-shelters-portable-emergency-shelter/feed/0Base Camp Sheltershttp://www.design4disaster.org/2016/04/14/base-camp-shelters/
http://www.design4disaster.org/2016/04/14/base-camp-shelters/#commentsThu, 14 Apr 2016 12:43:31 +0000http://www.design4disaster.org/?p=3507It takes an extraordinary structure to withstand extreme environments like Mount Everest and Mount Rainier. After an earthquake in April 2015, the WeatherPort base camp structure on Mount Everest was the only one still standing. The damage would have been even more devastating it it wasn’t for the sturdy construction of the Everest medical facility.

WeatherPort’s base camp structures are deployed in many areas to provide shelter for military, medical, and expedition groups around the world. These temporary housing solutions are engineered to withstand the world’s harshest environments. When disaster strikes, feel good knowing you are in a top of the line, engineered, fabric structure.

]]>http://www.design4disaster.org/2016/04/14/base-camp-shelters/feed/1Mobile field hospitalhttp://www.design4disaster.org/2016/03/29/mobile-field-hospital/
http://www.design4disaster.org/2016/03/29/mobile-field-hospital/#respondTue, 29 Mar 2016 10:26:49 +0000http://www.design4disaster.org/?p=3497BLU-MED’s mobile field hospitals, emergency shelters and mobile command centers are the industry’s state-of-the-art, portable, medical shelters. These medical shelters enable communities and emergency management to respond rapidly to large-scale disasters and emergencies with mobile hospital facilities and emergency response shelters when and where they are needed. Our deployable field hospitals and emergency shelters ensure a safe, clean environment where advanced-level health care can be given in any climate for extended periods of time.

BLU-MED’s newest hospital advancement is the XP Medical Response Package. It is designed for everyone from civilians to emergency management / emergency response services, the military to humanitarian aid projects that require rapid-deployment to assist after an emergency and natural disasters.

]]>http://www.design4disaster.org/2016/03/29/mobile-field-hospital/feed/0innonatives – how does it workhttp://www.design4disaster.org/2016/01/07/innonatives-how-does-ist-work/
http://www.design4disaster.org/2016/01/07/innonatives-how-does-ist-work/#respondThu, 07 Jan 2016 16:51:07 +0000http://www.design4disaster.org/?p=3487Watch this video to learn how innonatives – open innovation platform for sustainability – works.

The purpose of the innonatives online platform is to connect people, who have identified sustainability-related problems with those who can creatively solve them. innonatives also helps people organize adequate funding and collaboration to support their sustainability ideas and solutions. Support for sustainability initiatives is generated through access to a large international network including the public, field experts, businesses and organizations. innonatives is also an online market place for sustainable solutions.

Who can participate?

Everyone can get involved with innonatives. We want you to become a Seeker, Solver, Voter, Funder, Trader, Expert, a combination or all of the above.

SEEKER

identifies a sustainability related problem and is in need of a Solution. Seekers become Challenge Owners, if they propose a Challenge that the innonatives platform shall solve and their Challenge is published.

SOLVER

would like to develop or has developed sustainability related Solutions together with a group of other Solvers or individually.

VOTER

participates in voting for the most relevant Challenges and the best Solutions.

FUNDER

invests or donates money so that the best Solutions can be implemented.

TRADER

offers or buys sustainable products, services or solutions on the innonatives online marketplace.